Public Sector Head, Middle East & Africa

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Job Overview

To take responsibility as the Public Sector Head for the development and execution of the business strategy for Public Sector clients across the Middle East & Africa (MEA) region. This role is focused on achieving client acquisition and revenue targets by driving strategic dialogue with key government entities, originating and executing business opportunities, and positioning Citi as the premier financial partner in the region's economic transformation and development agenda.

• Develop and strengthen trusted relationships with senior officials, particularly at the Ministerial and Head-of-State level, across both Middle Eastern and African sovereign institutions, to sustain strategic dialogue and drive business.

• Originate and monetize business opportunities across Citi's entire product portfolio, including fixed income, equity, derivatives, structured products, FX, treasury and trade solutions, and sustainable finance instruments.

• Drive thought leadership and content relevant to the strategic objectives of MEA public sector clients, focusing on areas such as economic diversification, infrastructure development, privatization, digital transformation, and regional integration.

• Lead Public Sector initiatives that progress the franchise's objectives, performance, and market leadership across the MEA region.

• Lead and mentor junior staff to develop their banking skill set and public sector knowledge across both sub-regions.

Key Responsibilities

• Achieve sustainable revenue growth across the portfolio of public sector accounts in the Middle East & Africa, with accountability for both sub-regional P&L performance.

• Implement strategic calling plans to ensure business development is pursued across the entire MEA client base, with a focus on key sovereign, state-related, and development finance entities in both the GCC, Levant, emerging Middle East and African markets.

• Originate business opportunities by leveraging Citi's full product suite to support national development plans, strategic projects, and regional integration initiatives — including infrastructure financing, sovereign bond issuances, privatizations, and public-private partnerships.

• Work with product partners to structure viable, scalable, and cost-effective client solutions that align with the region's financing needs for major infrastructure, diversification, and climate-resilience projects across MEA.

• Develop and execute local currency financing solutions for African sovereign and DFI clients, helping to de-risk hard currency debt exposure and support domestic capital market development.

• Engage proactively with Middle East major sovereign wealth funds and public pension funds on asset monetization, co-investment, and advisory mandates — including infrastructure allocations, private credit, and cross-border investment strategies.

• Work with Independent Risk to manage the portfolio and individual client risk, achieving targeted risk-adjusted returns, particularly in the context of sovereign credit across both the Middle East and Africa's diverse credit landscape.

• Develop deep industry and segment specialization relevant to the MEA region's evolving economic landscape, including expertise in African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) implications and GCC economic diversification.

• Represent the Bank and the Public Sector franchise at public forums, including regional economic summits, investment conferences, and multilateral development bank convenings across MEA, serving as a subject matter expert.

• Build and maintain a strong network across African Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), multilateral organizations (AfDB, IFC, World Bank), and key African sovereign entities to originate cross-border opportunities.

Candidate Specification

Knowledge / Experience

• Extensive client interaction at senior levels within government and public sector entities across both the Middle East and Africa.

• Full knowledge of the entire suite of Citi’s products and a strong corporate finance mindset, with demonstrated experience in sovereign advisory, debt capital markets, structure funding and sustainable finance.

• Proven track record of deal origination, structuring, and execution in emerging markets, with specific experience in both Middle East and African markets strongly preferred.

• Consistent history of delivering on revenue and budget targets across a geographically diverse and complex client portfolio.

• Strong credit skills and experience, particularly with sovereign credits across the Middle East and Africa's varied credit spectrum — from investment-grade GCC sovereigns to frontier African markets.

• Deep geographic and cultural awareness and understanding of operating across the MEA region, including sensitivity to the distinct political, regulatory, and business environments in both sub-regions.

• Understanding of Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), multilateral development banks (MDBs), and their evolving role in the MEA region, including the African Development Bank, IFC, and regional DFIs.

• Familiarity with Africa's infrastructure financing landscape, sovereign bond markets, and the AfCFTA's implications for cross-border trade and investment flows.

Qualifications

• Master's degree, MBA, or equivalent from a leading institution.

• 15+ years of Corporate Banking and/or Development Finance experience, with meaningful exposure to both Middle Eastern and African markets.

• Prior experience dealing with public sector institutions in Middle East and Africa, with strong preference for candidates with demonstrated coverage of sovereign, SWF, and DFI clients across Middle East and African sovereign and DFI clients.

• Business SCO credentials (or similar from another global financial institution).

• Solid network of contacts and access across the Middle East and key African financial centers (e.g., Nairobi, Lagos, Cairo, Johannesburg, Abidjan).

• Fluency in English is required. Fluency or professional proficiency in Arabic is a significant advantage. Working knowledge of French is an additional asset given Francophone Africa coverage.

• The position will be based in either Dubai or Riyadh, with regular travel across the MEA region.

Development Value

• Senior Exposure: Exposure to Senior Management and Senior Bankers throughout Citi's extensive global and MEA network, including country CEOs and regional leadership.

• World-Class Skills: Opportunity to develop world-class, broad-based banking and client relationship skills across one of the world's most dynamic and strategically important emerging market corridors.

• Complex Environment: Opportunity to work in a large and complex organization with a demanding customer base spanning Middle East sovereigns, SWFs, African DFIs, and multilateral institutions in a challenging and dynamic environment.

• Risk Expertise: Gain deep experience and insight into the risks and associated mitigation strategies in dealing with the Public Sector across the full MEA spectrum.

• Multicultural Environment: Exposure to an open and multicultural working environment spanning diverse cultures, languages, and regulatory frameworks across the Middle East and Africa.

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Job Family Group:

Institutional Banking

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Job Family:

Corporate Banking

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Time Type:

Full time

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Most Relevant Skills

Please see the requirements listed above.

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Other Relevant Skills

For complementary skills, please see above and/or contact the recruiter.

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